* "Put those over there, Kara," Aunt Elisa said, pointing somewhere behind me. When I looked, all the counters were crowded with food. "Wow, did you clean out the liquor store or what? Dylan, put that down. You're going to drop it. Oh, you silly, silly goose." "It's okay," Charity said. "Dylan can handle it." "No, no. He can't. He'll trip and hurt himself like he always does." She plucked the bowl of soup from Dylan's hands, handed it to Charity, and replaced it with a basket of bread. "Don't worry, Aunt Elisa. He's all grown up. I'm sure he can manage. He can walk on two legs now. You should see him jump. He can clean after himself too. It's impressive." She hooted with laughter. "Kara, you're a trip." She turned to Dylan again. "Come back right after and bring the chips and dips. One at a time so you don't spill." Dylan shot me a kill me now look before stepping out with them into the dining room where everyone was hanging out. "Hey, Kara." "Cess!" It was Cecille, Aunt Tabby's daughter and the only cousin I was close with. She was very independent, the opposite of her mom, and dealt with life with a refreshing frankness I appreciated. After her dad passed away, we've bonded over being the only daughters in the family with one parent. "How's it going? You're late." I gave her a sullen look in reply, gestured toward the bottles of alcohol I've managed to squeeze on the counter. "Mom?" Her face fell. "Did she give you money?" "No." "You have online banking, right? I'll send it to you. Sorry about that." "It's fine. It's Christmas." "What does that have to do with anything? Let me—" "Okay, how about I half it with you?" "Just half? Are you sure?" "Because it's you, yes, I'm sure. Come on, I'm starving. You can hand feed me." "Forget it," she teased. "I'll send you the full amount than getting your slobber all over my hand." "Cess," Dylan piped up, looking stressed out. "Your mom is looking for you. She said bring the booze." Cess shot me a tired look, grabbed two bottles of wine, let out a long-suffering sigh and left. Her dad had spoiled her mom, and when he passed away, Aunt Tabby had expected her daughter to take over the role. "Kar, can we go home yet?" Dylan looked around, and when there were no witnesses other than his dear sister, grabbed a couple of spring rolls and shoved them in his mouth. "I wish." "I can't eat with the general around. I swear she, like, hears me chewing from the other room and tells me to pick up the crumbs." I laughed. "I don't mind Aunt Elisa. She just needs to relax." "Plus, I'm tired of listening to Andrew. Judith came with her new boyfriend Sanjay, who's pretty cool bee-tee-double U, but Andrew's not happy she broke up with the scientist." "Andrew will bitch about the air if he can. Just stay away where he breathes, and you'll be fine. Is Dad having fun?" "Oh yeah. You know he loves family gatherings." "Good. Is there food I can eat?" He shot me a boyish grin. Funny it never changed. It was the same toothy grin he'd been giving me since he was a baby. I missed him. I missed our easy camaraderie. Ever since my mother came back, our relationship had been a little strained. "Naomi claims she's vegetarian now, so she ate most of the eggplant lasagna Charity made for you. But..." He walked to the fridge, reached on top of it behind the clutter and proudly flashed a plate in front of me. "I saved you some." I smiled, and this time I genuinely felt it. This was his way of making up for our fights. "You're my favorite brother." "I know. Aren't I great?" "A little bit. Fork?" "Here." "Thanks. Oh man. This is really good. I think she used vegan cheese, but still really good." I looked up when he hadn't said anything in ten seconds. Dylan loved to hear his voice and usually wouldn't even stop to take a breath. "What's up, Dyl?"